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International Excellence Team To Work On Infectious Disease At The Gulbenkian Science Institute, In Portugal
January 31, 2005The Gulbenkian Science Institute (IGC), in Portugal, is to host one of the 20 excellence teams approved by the European Commission in the 2004 call. The team, led by IGC researcher Gabriela Gomes, has been awarded a grant of approximately one million and nine hundred thousand euro, to be used over a period of four years. The scientists on the team will develop mathematical models to be applied in the control of recurrent infections, such as malaria and tuberculosis. The work is being undertaken in collaboration with experimental scientists, public health teams and the pharmaceutical industry.
The excellence team is made up of researchers from the United Kingdom, France, Portugal, Kenya, Australia and the United States, bringing together world renowned expertise in mathematical and computational modelling, data analysis, ecology and evolution of infectious diseases, and epidemiology. The aim is to respond successfully to the present day challenge of developing and deploying multidisciplinary strategies to fight recurrent and persistent infections.
This team's work will lead to a better understanding of some of the unresolved inconsistencies in the transmission of infections, such as the variable efficacy of the BCG vaccine against tuberculosis, or the effect on malaria prevention of mosquito nets. Based on the concept of reinfection threshold, first introduced by Gabriela Gomes, it will be possible to model and manipulate several of the factors thought to play a role in controlling these diseases: vaccination, sanitation and therapeutics, amongst others.
According to Gabriela Gomes, the team will strengthen existing collaborations and pursue new ones with experimental research groups and public health teams, both in Portugal and abroad. Two PhD studentships are available, within the team.
This proposal is one of only 20 approved by the Commission, out of 298 proposals submitted for evaluation. According to Ant'³nio Coutinho, this award is yet a further example of the success of the IGC in its mission to be a host institution where researchers may autonomously propose and develop award-winning projects, with the added value of bringing internationally reputed scientists to the country, to develop a novel field and train future scientists.
Instituto Gulbenkian de CiÙncia (IGC)
According to Gabriela Gomes, the team will strengthen existing collaborations and pursue new ones with experimental research groups and public health teams, both in Portugal and abroad. Two PhD studentships are available, within the team.
This proposal is one of only 20 approved by the Commission, out of 298 proposals submitted for evaluation. According to Ant'³nio Coutinho, this award is yet a further example of the success of the IGC in its mission to be a host institution where researchers may autonomously propose and develop award-winning projects, with the added value of bringing internationally reputed scientists to the country, to develop a novel field and train future scientists.
Instituto Gulbenkian de CiÙncia (IGC)
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